Inland vs marine chart apps
For European rivers and canals, Rivanaut is built inland-first; marine chartplotters like Navionics are built sea-first. This page compares strengths so you can pick the right tool — or use both for coastal transfers and inland cruising.
Quick answer: which app for canal boating in Europe?
Choose Rivanaut if you primarily cruise rivers, canals and lakes — especially with a houseboat, narrowboat or motor cruiser and you need vessel-aware fairway routing, lock/bridge context and inland POIs. Choose Navionics, Aqua Map or C-Map if you mainly sail coastal waters, need certified marine charts or worldwide harbour coverage.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Rivanaut | Navionics / marine apps |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | European inland waterways | Coastal & offshore marine |
| Fairway routing on canals | Yes — follows waterway graph | Limited; often straight-line or marine-centric |
| Vessel-aware routing (draft, air draft) | Yes — core feature | Varies; rarely inland-specific |
| Locks, bridges, inland POIs | Marinas, locks, fuel, moorings from OSM | Strong on coastal harbours |
| Live water levels (DE, NL, FR) | PEGELONLINE, Rijkswaterstaat, Vigicrues | Not typically inland-focused |
| Offline charts | Regional download for inland areas | Marine chart packages |
| Anchor watch & logbook | Built in | Varies by app |
| Apple Watch | Full companion app | Limited or none |
| Platforms | iOS 17+ (Android in development) | iOS & Android (varies) |
Comparison based on publicly documented features as of June 2026. Marine app capabilities vary by region and subscription tier.
When Rivanaut is the better choice
- Planning a multi-day trip on European canals (France, Netherlands, Germany, etc.)
- You need routing that respects boat height for bridges and tunnels
- You want harbour reviews and community POI data on inland berths
- You cruise areas with weak mobile signal and need offline inland charts
- You want water-level gauges integrated into the same app as your route
Download Rivanaut on the App Store or read the inland navigation planning guide.
When a marine chartplotter is the better choice
- Offshore or coastal passages with tides and marine traffic rules
- You need official hydrographic office charts for commercial or regulatory use
- Worldwide harbour databases and AIS-focused features are priorities
Many skippers use a marine app at sea and an inland specialist like Rivanaut on rivers and canals.
Disclaimer
Navionics is a trademark of its respective owner. This comparison is published by Rivanaut’s developer for informational purposes. Always verify safety-critical information with official sources. Rivanaut is not a certified navigation system.